DCS Explains How Family Life is Accommodated in Rehabilitation Process

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has explained how ‘family life’ is accommodated in the island’s correctional facilities.

The DCS has developed programmes that seek to mirror activities done normally in society, to aid the rehabilitation process of inmates.

Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Head of the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, Superintendent Ivan Randall, indicated that family days are a critical part of the system for inmates.

“We have family days where inmates are allowed to interact with their children twice annually. Fathers and mothers, in the case of the South Camp facility, are allowed to sit with their children and interact closely for maybe 15 to 20 minutes. These events are a big deal for the children to see their parents,” he said.

Superintendent Randall also expressed satisfaction with the recently constructed nursery at the South Camp Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston.

This nursery, which was constructed at a cost of $13 million, is the first ever infant nursery established for incarcerated expectant mothers.

“Pregnant mothers or mothers with young babies can be held… . We keep babies with the mothers up to six months. After six months a report is done on any family member or a friend who could be a guardian of that child. If the report comes back with those people being suitable guardians, the child is handed over to them,” Superintendent Randall said.

He pointed out that if no suitable candidate is found to take care of the child, then the child will be placed in a children’s home, and at the release of the mother they can be reunited.

“If the mother is to be released in a short period, say up to when the child is one year old, the child will be allowed to stay with the mother, and as I said, there is a nursery where the child isn’t with the general population, but by themselves,” Superintendent Randall said.

The DCS will commence its annual Corrections Week from October 27 to November 2, 2024, under the theme ‘Shifting Organisational Culture to Foster Greater Collaboration, Inclusivity, and Agility’.

A series of activities have been planned to mark the week-long celebrations, starting with the launch set for Sunday, October 27, with a church service at the Redeemer Moravian Church, 22 North Street, Kingston, beginning at 10:00 a.m.